ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0RB5 includes procedures performed to excise portions of the cervicothoracic vertebral disc in the upper joints. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when excision of disc material is performed without replacement to treat disc-related compression or pain. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0RB5 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and determines appropriate case mix and payment.

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Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

Procedures in this group involve excision of a portion of the cervicothoracic vertebral disc and target the upper joints body system of the spine. These operations remove disc material without replacement to relieve compression or pain and restore function. Accurate coding of these excisions is critical for inpatient reimbursement because it captures the specific operation performed and supports appropriate case mix determination.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
R	Body System	Upper Joints
B	Operation	Excision
5	Body Part	Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
R	Body System	Upper Joints
B	Operation	Excision
5	Body Part	Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a portion of the cervicothoracic vertebral disc is surgically excised without replacement during an inpatient stay. Typical clinical circumstances include decompression for disc herniation or removal of diseased disc material causing neurologic or mechanical symptoms.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

6 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0RB50ZX	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0RB50ZZ	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach
0RB53ZX	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0RB53ZZ	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach
0RB54ZX	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
0RB54ZZ	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
028	Spinal Procedures with MCC
029	Spinal Procedures with CC or Spinal Neurostimulators
030	Spinal Procedures without CC/MCC
518	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with MCC or Disc Device or Neurostimulator
519	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with CC
520	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Elderly patient with acute worsening of neck and upper thoracic radicular pain after a recent fall, presenting to the hospital with progressive neurological deficits and imaging showing a focal herniation of the cervicothoracic disc causing cord or nerve root compression; inpatient excision of the offending disc material without replacement is performed urgently to decompress neural structures and prevent further neurologic compromise. Typical codes: 0RB50ZZ, 0RB53ZZ
Middle-aged patient with chronic, severe axial neck pain and radiculopathy refractory to conservative outpatient care who is admitted electively for planned surgical decompression; a portion of the cervicothoracic vertebral disc is surgically excised without replacement via a percutaneous endoscopic approach to relieve persistent mechanical compression and improve function. Typical codes: 0RB54ZZ
Patient with prior conservative drainage and persistent symptomatic disc fragment at the cervicothoracic junction who develops recurrent neurologic symptoms and requires a targeted, minimally invasive diagnostic excision to both inspect and remove residual disc material; the inpatient procedure uses a percutaneous approach for excision and tissue diagnosis to guide further management. Typical codes: 0RB53ZX, 0RB54ZX

Related Codes

0RB0-OCCIPITAL-CERVICAL-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Occipital-Cervical Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB1-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB3-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB4-CERVICOTHORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB6-THORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB9-THORACIC-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBA-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBB-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBC-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-RIGHT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Temporomandibular Joint Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBD-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Temporomandibular Joint, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 28

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

6 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0RB50ZX	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0RB50ZZ	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach
0RB53ZX	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0RB53ZZ	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach
0RB54ZX	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
0RB54ZZ	Excision of Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
028	Spinal Procedures with MCC
029	Spinal Procedures with CC or Spinal Neurostimulators
030	Spinal Procedures without CC/MCC
518	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with MCC or Disc Device or Neurostimulator
519	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with CC
520	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Elderly patient with acute worsening of neck and upper thoracic radicular pain after a recent fall, presenting to the hospital with progressive neurological deficits and imaging showing a focal herniation of the cervicothoracic disc causing cord or nerve root compression; inpatient excision of the offending disc material without replacement is performed urgently to decompress neural structures and prevent further neurologic compromise. Typical codes: 0RB50ZZ, 0RB53ZZ
Middle-aged patient with chronic, severe axial neck pain and radiculopathy refractory to conservative outpatient care who is admitted electively for planned surgical decompression; a portion of the cervicothoracic vertebral disc is surgically excised without replacement via a percutaneous endoscopic approach to relieve persistent mechanical compression and improve function. Typical codes: 0RB54ZZ
Patient with prior conservative drainage and persistent symptomatic disc fragment at the cervicothoracic junction who develops recurrent neurologic symptoms and requires a targeted, minimally invasive diagnostic excision to both inspect and remove residual disc material; the inpatient procedure uses a percutaneous approach for excision and tissue diagnosis to guide further management. Typical codes: 0RB53ZX, 0RB54ZX

Related Codes

0RB0-OCCIPITAL-CERVICAL-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Occipital-Cervical Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB1-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB3-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB4-CERVICOTHORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB6-THORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB9-THORACIC-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBA-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBB-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBC-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-RIGHT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Temporomandibular Joint Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBD-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Temporomandibular Joint, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 28

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which body system and operation does the ICD-10-PCS 0RB5 group describe?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes included in the 0RB5 group?

When should a procedure be coded to one of the 0RB5 codes?

How does coding within 0RB5 affect inpatient reimbursement and case mix?

Which related DRGs may be assigned for procedures coded in the 0RB5 group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which body system and operation does the ICD-10-PCS 0RB5 group describe?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes included in the 0RB5 group?

When should a procedure be coded to one of the 0RB5 codes?

How does coding within 0RB5 affect inpatient reimbursement and case mix?

Which related DRGs may be assigned for procedures coded in the 0RB5 group?

References